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Better Late Than Never For Shadyside’s Johnson

JOHNSON

BETHANY — Billy Johnson subscribes to the “better late than never” theory.

The Shadyside graduate had a superb senior season as the Tigers quarterback, putting up impressive numbers and leading the Tigers to an 8-2 record and another trip to the Division VII playoffs.

He seemingly picked up every honor imaginable, including Eastern District Player of the Year, All-Ohio, All-OVAC and the list goes on and on. But, an invitation, which he so desperately wanted, to play in the OVAC Rudy Mumley All-Star Football Game didn’t arrive in the spring.

Unlike some, however, Johnson didn’t hold a grudge. He simply worried about the things he could control and his focus shifted to playing baseball for the St. Clairsville American Legion team.

Just a few days before camp opened at Bethany College, Johnson received a call offering him a spot on the Ohio roster for Saturday’s 72nd annual OVAC All-Star Game.

“There was no second thoughts about playing,” Johnson said. “I knew that I had the opportunity (to play in this game), I was going to take it. It’s great to be here. I’ve always wanted to be a part of this game.”

With his selection to the team came a position change. In his second season as the Tigers’ starting quarterback, Johnson passed for more than 1,700 yards and 20 touchdowns.

He also rushed for better than 500 yards, adding 10 touchdowns on the ground.

When he takes the field at Purple Rider Stadium on Saturday evening, Johnson will be the starting strong safety and he’s also listed second on the depth chart at wide receiver.

“The transition into the new positions has gone well,” Johnson said. “It’s been a pretty easy system to learn. It’s not been really complicated on either side of the ball. I just can’t wait to play.”

Like many in camp this week, Johnson was faced with some tough decisions regarding baseball. Because OVAC rules only permit one absence from camp, Johnson had planned to go to Cambridge on Tuesday evening had Post 159 gotten through its two Monday games. The point became moot since St. C. bowed out to Marietta.

Though he’s signed to play baseball at Wheeling Jesuit, the opportunity to represent the Shadyside football program one more time was simply too much for him to pass up.

“This is my last football game,” Johnson said. “My legion coach understood where I was coming from when I told him I was going to play. I’ll have four more years to play baseball. I’ll only have one time to do this game and have this experience.”

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